Newspaper vendor Veronica Atherley, who sustained a gunshot wound to her hip on Saturday afternoon after a licensed firearm holder opened fire on two robbers and missed his target, remains in a stable condition in the Georgetown Public Hospital.

When this newspaper visited the injured woman yesterday afternoon, relatives gathered at her bedside to offer comforting words. The 59-year- old Stewartville, West Coast Demerara resident intermittently cried out in pain as she related her condition to relatives. A relative told Stabroek News, while at the hospital, that his sister-in-law seemed to be improving. Relatives prayed and expressed hope that Atherley would recover soon from her injuries and return to her job, which they noted, was her life.

Atherley was rushed to the GPH bleeding profusely from the gunshot wound which she sustained while sitting at her stand selling newspapers on Saturday afternoon. According to reports, two men attempted to rob another in the Stabroek Market area prior to the shooting and while attempting to flee, the man opened fire on the duo, missing his target in the process. Atherley was hit in the region of her hip and immediately rushed to the public hospital.

The shooter attempted to flee the scene after realizing that he had missed his target and had injured the woman, but several persons pursued him and he was subsequently apprehended. The man is said to be in police custody assisting with investigations.